A fork in the road...

We have arrived at a fork, we are in a pickle, we have a conundrum.

Here is our dilemma: private adoption or child welfare adoption through the state?

Private Adoption pros & cons:
Pros...
-You choose the age, newborns are definitely available. Possibly a relationship with the birth mother during her pregnancy.
-BM are carefully screened, we would have a very transparent view of the BMs pregnancy.
-Our agency will guarantee most of the money even if our adoption should fall through.
Cons...
-Cost of adoption starts at $15,000 and goes up. $15K would be a LOW cost.
-Since a BM chooses you, there is potential to have a longer wait. (it could also move more quickly)

State adoption pros & cons:
Pros:
-FREE. That's right, it's free. There may be minimal fees but not even close to a private adoption.
-Due to the high need of families it would move much faster than a private adoption.
-There's a huge need, google heart gallery. It is so sad and unbelievable how many children don't have families.
Cons...
-The average age of a child adopted is 8. Under 5 years old is rare, and at any given time there are 300+ families waiting for a toddler.
-The odds of being chosen for a toddler are very small.
-Kids up for adoption are in the foster care system, which means they will have been through emotional trauma and have special needs to connect to a new family.

So, we need to decide ASAP. We have been seeking God's plan throughout our journey, and right now we really want to continue on the path He has for us. One other prayer request is a financial one. Our homestudy is scheduled for this Thursday and on our second visit we will have to pay half of the cost. ($750) Scotty is working on a 5k to raise money but we seem to keep running into roadblocks. He's persistent and very resourceful, so we are pressing on! If you have connections or are interested in sponsoring something for the race, email or call one of us.

Thank you for following our journey, and we are so thankful for your continued prayers!

Tera & Scotty

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